George Edwin Knight's Obituary
George Edwin Knight, 85, of Fayetteville, AR, died to this life and entered heaven on June 5, 2026, at Willard Walker Hospice House, surrounded by family and friends. George was born July 15, 1940, in Hot Springs, AR, to Alma and Grady Knight. He grew up in Nashville and Little Rock, AR, and graduated from Central High School during desegregation in 1958. He went on to the University of Arkansas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. During his college years he was a proud member of Sigma Nu Fraternity — where he made dear, lifelong friends.
During college, George enlisted in ROTC and after college served as an officer in the U.S. Army, flying the L-19/O-1 Bird Dog and the U-6 Beaver and landing in every state but one. He was also a flight instructor and platform flight instructor, leaving the service as a captain.
In 1967, he returned to Little Rock and began his career at IBM. A natural salesman, skilled at building relationships, he never met a stranger. Those qualities served him well when IBM moved him to Northwest Arkansas in 1969 to manage accounts, including a young company called Walmart. In 1975, he began working full-time with Walmart providing IT solutions. George installed the first computers in stores when the company had only 14 locations, and his career grew right alongside it. He took great pride in their success.
He retired early from IBM at age 55 and began his “retirement career” as a consultant for Acxiom Corporation, where he spent many years identifying and recruiting bright young computer engineering talent. He also chaired hospitality for Acxiom’s racing circuit, traveling across the country to host clients at Grand Prix events.
George was a passionate outdoorsman and adventurer. He loved hiking, snow skiing, flying, and golf, and he delighted in exploring Arkansas and Colorado, seeking out remote trails across both states. He completed the entire Ozark Highlands Trail and most of the Ouachita Trail, and he floated many of Arkansas’s rivers, with a deep attachment to the Kings and the Buffalo. He spent extensive time in Colorado, driving and hiking the high country, and floated the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon twice. He visited as many national parks as he could reach, made several trips to southern Australia, and even spent two weeks travelling across the Simpson Desert.
One of his greatest joys was introducing people to the special places he loved. Part of his legacy lives on in the many people who credit him with their own love of nature and the outdoors.
For more than 60 years, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Fayetteville, where he served as a college Sunday school leader, department leader, and door greeter (his favorite job). He held leadership roles with Fayetteville Parks and Recreation, Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club, Single Parent Scholarship Fund, American Red Cross, and Fayetteville Country Club. He was also co-founder and charter member of the Arkansas’s Academy of Computing in conjunction with the University of Arkansas. A devoted Razorback fan, he joined the athletic department’s basketball and football statistics crew in 1972, and he could be found directly behind home plate at every Hog baseball game. He also enjoyed taking part in the book club and in OLLI and Butterfield Trail Village activities.
George loved his family and was an incredible husband, father, and grandfather (known to all as “G”), as well as a father figure to many who needed that presence in their lives. He was never without a dog at his side and cherished the countless dogs that brought him so much joy over the years.
He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Chris Knight; his mother and father, Alma and Grady Knight; and his stepmother, Ruth Knight.
George is survived by his wife of 63 years, Vicki Knight; his daughter, Kim Dutton, and her husband, Mark; his brother, Bill Knight, and his wife, Sandy; his grandchildren, Lauren Cunningham and her husband, Brian, James Dutton and his wife, Maddy, and Mitchell Dutton; and his great-grandchildren, Parker and Libby Robinson and Lucille Dutton. He is also survived by his niece, Ainslee Hoffpauir (William), and their children, Maddie and Kirah; his nephew, Scott Tefteller (Donna), and their children, Tori Jo and Tinsley; and his bonus Italian grandson, Matteo Massai.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, 20 East Dickson Street, Fayetteville, AR.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to First Baptist Church of Fayetteville or to the charity of your choice. We also ask that in his honor, you take the time to unplug, take a hike, float a river, ride a bike, or create an adventure and a special memory with the ones you love.
To sign the online guest book please visit https://www.bernafuneralhomes.com
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